"I resonate what Novak said, we're not villains" - Azarenka supports Djokovic
WTA
Victoria Azarenka has supported Novak Djokovic after some accused him of exaggerating his injury issues at the Australian Open. The Belarusian says the media tries to paint players as heroes or villains.
Azarenka won the 2012 and 2013 Australian Opens and is a three-time runner-up at the US Open, establishing her as one of the best women's hardcourt players of the last twenty years.
Although she is now 33, Azarenka continues to compete impressively. The former world No. 1 played solid tennis in 2022, but her level at the ongoing Australian Open has been superb and defied expectations.
Azarenka reached her first Grand Slam semifinal since reaching the most recent of her US Open finals in 2020 after an outstanding display of baseline consistency against Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinal in Melbourne.
Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic will hope to join her at that stage when he faces Andrey Rublev in the men's singles quarterfinals. The Serbian has impressed at the tournament, which is no surprise considering his track record.
However, Djokovic has been accused of exaggerating injury issues at this year's Australian Open. The 21-time Grand Slam champion responded by saying only his injury issues get questioned.
Azarenka slammed those making assumptions about Djokovic without knowing all the details and thinks it is part of the media's consistent efforts to make players heroes or villains rather than viewing them as human beings.
"I actually can resonate what Novak said the other day. There is sometimes, like, I don't know, incredible desire for a villain and a hero story that has to be written. But we're not villains, we're not heroes, we are regular human beings that go through so many, many things."
"Assumptions and judgments, all those comments, are just s**t because nobody's there to see the full story. It didn't matter how many times I said my story, it did not cut through."
